Netballer Scarlet Jauncey never imagined there’d be a First Nations national team to
strive for. An opportunity to play for her country, surrounded by Indigenous
teammates and mentors. It’s one of many reasons why Netball Australia’s recent
initiative – the creation of the Black Swans – is so powerful.
12 of Australia’s finest First Nations netballers were chosen for the inaugural national
team, as part of Netball Australia’s commitment to increase representation and
retention of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander athletes. Their selection was based
on their experience in national high performance programmes, and they were
supported by Indigenous coaching and support staff.
The Black Swans, coaches and support staff take the line at the Australia Pacific Series, 2024. Image Danny Dalton/Tah Dah Sports
The team’s first outing was at June’s Australia Pacific Series, where they finished on
top of the ladder. Played in Queensland, it was the fourth iteration of the tournament,
this year featuring teams from Tonga, Singapore, Fiji, Namibia and Samoa, all
playing for world ranking points. As an invitational team, the Black Swans were
unable to compete for medals, but achieved four wins and two losses, an incredible
achievement for the new look side.
A proud Yaruwu woman, Jauncey was a rock in defence, while her sister Jamaica
played in the shooting circle. Elite netball isn’t new to Scarlet – born in Western
Australia, she spent time in the Queensland pathways when her family moved there
for five years, but has since returned home. The hard working athlete captained
WA’s state U17 and U19 teams, and was also selected in national squads for the
same age group. However, playing for the Black Swans is the highlight of her career
to date.
Sisters Scarlet and Jamaica Jauncey took the court together for the Black Swans. Image Danny Dalton/Tah Dah Sports
Jauncey said, “Playing for the Black Swans was an experience like no other. Getting
to play alongside some of my best friends, building connections with them, and
playing for my country at such a young age is something I didn’t think I’d be doing.
To do that on the international stage representing my family and tribe was fantastic.”
“The Black Swans is paving the way for the future, and gives young Indigenous
children something to strive for.”
ON COURT SUCCESS
Thought given by Netball Australia to the structure of the team made the experience
for the young athletes a safer space for them to thrive in. They were surrounded by
other First Nations women such as head coach and Kamilaroi woman Ali Tucker-
Munro, and former elite netballer Beryl Friday, a Kuku Nyungkal woman, who shared
some of their experiences.
Jauncey explained, “Our physio, our manager, both of our coaches were all
Indigenous, so it was great to see and experience them in their high performance
roles.
“Having that level of support in this team was really special.”
While inaugural Black Swans’ coach Tucker-Munro is also Netball Australia’s First
Nations Engagement Lead, she’s a familiar face to Jauncey. The former Diamonds’
squad member is a regular when Indigenous netballers attend Australian training
camps. Jauncey explained, “She’s been around during those weeks doing coaching,
being a support person for me and other First Nations’ athletes.
Ali Tucker-Munro – inaugural coach of the Black Swans. Image Danny Dalton/Tah Dah Sports
The Confident Girls Foundation has also thrown their ongoing support and
sponsorship around the Black Swans, which will help the team going forwards. Their
next outing will be at the upcoming Australian Netball Championships, to be held in
Canberra in August. Across three days of competition, the Black Swans will be able
to test their skills against other teams, while there will also be developmental
opportunities for other parts of the netball ecosystem, including coaches, umpires
and bench officials.
Luckily Jauncey won’t have to decide between competing for the Black Swans and
Western Australia, a choice she had to make recently.
“I’ve had something similar come up when I decided to play in the Pacific series,
because the tournament ran at the same time as my commitments with the West
Coast Fever reserves, and also my last round and semi-finals in the Western
Australian Netball League.
“They were really important games, but playing for the Black Swans was an
opportunity I wasn’t going to give up. It was a hard decision, but I knew what I was
going to do all along.”
Goal keeper Scarlet Jauncey gets a hand to the ball. Image Danny Dalton/Tah Dah Sports
OFF COURT SUPPORT
With research showing that abuse continues to rise in sport, it takes a special kind of
courage to be an elite athlete, and especially an Indigenous elite athlete. In addition
to the racism they experience on a societal level, First Nations athletes often receive
backlash purely for doing what they love and are good at.
It doesn’t get much worse than the vitriol directed at Queensland Firebird and
Noongar woman Donnell Wallam. When a sponsorship issue with Hancock
Prospecting cropped up, the superstar was left stranded as the face of the
controversy.
The vilification she received has been horrific and two years later, is still
going on. Just days ago, Wallam received an abusive letter in the mail, which she
rightly called out and has since received widespread support from her governing
body, player and state associations, fans and fellow athletes.
The Black Swans connected immediately. Image Danny Dalton/Tah Dah Sports
While Jauncey hasn’t suffered the same level of criticism as this mentor of hers, and
hopefully never will, racial abuse is something many First Nations athletes
experience, even in their youth.
“We often experience it our whole lives, and it’s definitely hard.
“It starts with comments online, comments in person, or people who think they can
hide in a bigger crowd – we’ve seen this in footy with Adam Goodes.”
It’s another reason why the existence of the Black Swans is so crucial. As Jauncey
explained, “When we joined the Black Swans we had a yarn about our experiences,
and hearing words of wisdom from Ali and Beryl on how to deal with it.”
A deadly lean over the shot. Image Danny Dalton/Tah Dah Sports
Netball Australia’s State of the Game review of 2020 committed to not only
increasing Indigenous representation within netball, but stated that the sport should
be ‘playing its part in Australia’s broad commitments to Aboriginal and/or Torres
Strait Islander self-determination and social justice.’
For Jauncey, being a part of the Black Swans has highlighted some further initiatives
that could help, giving her courage that the future may be different.
Having experienced the value of Indigenous mentors surrounding the team, Jauncey
hopes similar initiatives can filter through on a broader scale. Providing more cultural
awareness training to coaches and umpires so they have a better understanding of
Indigenous athletes and the issues they can face and supporting opportunities for
First Nations people across the spectrum of netball.
The Black Swans and their support group at the the Australia Pacific Series. Image Danny Dalton/Tah Dah Sports
Further information on the Black Swans can be found here.
Suncorp Super Netball Round 13 marks the second First Nations Round, to align with NAIDOC week. Some of the NAIDOC celebrations in your state or territory can be found here. This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud. It ‘celebrates the unyielding spirit of First Nations communities and invites all to stand in solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced.’
E-safety resources for the sporting community can be found here.
E-safety resources for First Nations people can be found here.
